Surrounded at home by her loving family and her beautiful paintings, Marlene Lewis passed away on Saturday morning, November 29, 2008. She faced her battle with non-hodgkins lymphoma with the same positive outlook that she demonstrated any time she faced adversity. She had a "winning way" making friends all her life - up to and including the wonderful team of health professionals who cared for her during her last hours. She was beautiful and positively radiant right to the last minute.

Marlene was born at home on her family farm on the River Road near Chatham, Ontario. She had a magical childhood with a close association to the St. Thomas Anglican Church and the Bagnall School. She "dazzled 'em" with an early talent for both art and tap dancing.

Her career at Bell Canada (referred by her as simply "The Bell") was very rewarding and took her to such sophisticated places as Wallaceberg, Windsor, Sarnia and London.

They say Love is Blind…and so must have been the case when she met John Lewis "Jack" of Lindsay on a blind date in 1957. They married in 1959 and lived in London, then on to Waterloo and Oakville.

Marlene and Jack have two daughters, Shelley and Robyne - both of Toronto. They have a tight-knit family spending countless weekends together at home, the cottage on Balsam Lake and holidays in Hillsboro Beach Florida.

Marlene stayed at home to be with her young girls, affording her the time to immerse herself in her three passions: painting, politics and pursuing her many deep friendships.

Marlene would want us to make special note of the team at the AIC-Berkshire Cancer Clinic in Burlington. They moved mountains in order to reverse the inevitable. She always loved being "Knee to Knee with Dr. Gee" - treating each visit as a social "outing", looking her best, and going out for an enjoyable martini lunch afterwards.

Marlene was predeceased by her father Benjamin, mother Helen, her infant brother Calvin, and sister, Donez Jubenville, all of Chatham. She is survived by sister-in-laws, Ethel Lewis of Lindsay and Murial Lewis of Port Dover. She was cherished by her many nieces and nephews. She will be sadly missed by her loving "Granddogs" - Mabel and Wilbur.

The pleasure of your company will be delightful at the visitation on Friday, December 5 at the Kopriva Taylor Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West in Oakville from 2 -4 and 7 - 9 p.m.. The funeral - a tribute to her sparkling and whimsical personality - will be held at St. Cuthbert's Anglican Church, 1541 Oakhill Drive, Oakville on Saturday December 6 at 11 a.m. Reception immediately following at the Oakville Golf Club,1154 Sixth Line.

Marlene was born at home, she died at home, and she always made you feel at home.